[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,86,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6296587,"mediaKeyId","2514267-31d82670eb630cc0b3f4cc41d2f828a0","parentId",2514267,"title","Community leaders, residents report Broadway Beautification plan ready; urge commission to adopt","audioSeconds",1187,"startMs",1524000,"endMs",2711000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2514267-31d82670eb630cc0b3f4cc41d2f828a0&start=1524&end=2711","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2514267-31d82670eb630cc0b3f4cc41d2f828a0/thumbnail_1524000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6296587/Kissimmee/Osceola-County/Florida/Community-leaders-residents-report-Broadway-Beautification-plan-ready-urge-commission-to-adopt","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6296587-905a54e99dd9d91699532213cf52061a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174596&Signature=QxL-cVkKwg2GlnksGuZoUB~L0Cr9FOl60nD7-thhg5QIo0j2YeSjfFBi3uxwFbWj1Q8X4UMgbvT4liKLjtXFt8rW8YdxijfqiM7fsIgURimnN1zqe3zTAJbcK4QSMB5en1bkXZNbXLS4U9u3NrRu3oxXmD995f07J-Yf92~rhKKcb-7wFiHoiXBl~rfE5kzQ~0h~yq3KGQjmXbomBD-LTbB9zZi9fbvuOClU6Ia32SKS79bczLNJei6KEzSZYwKZx8q~E7epbv2KQrOAtORrpX7uxKWHCsxArZQHQg1qIinbbF6qi8rOnsMoQ-ay5IH50wCPxWTGABbcXu-vNVHd~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Kissimmee. FL ","date","2025-01-21T00:00:00Z","article","Two downtown residents reported to the City Commission that the Broadway Beautification Project has construction drawings in place, a parking plan that increases spaces, and community support; they urged the commission and staff to move quickly to secure state funding and let contracts in May.

Ray Parsons, who said he met with city staff about the Broadway plan, reported there are adopted construction drawings and that community leaders he consulted support the project. Parsons urged staff to move rapidly to implement the plan and to pursue state funding and contract letting in May.

Tom Kapp said he obtained a survey and revised the plan to reconfigure parking — adding parallel and angle parking and extra sidewalks — and estimated the redesign would provide roughly two‑and‑a‑half times the existing parking in affected blocks. Kapp said some lane closures and signal changes would be required and that state approvals and traffic studies might affect timing, but that the construction work itself should not block the schedule.

Both speakers asked the commission to encourage staff to adopt the plan and proceed with the state funding process.

Ray Parsons: “I think there's some important dates coming up in May as far as, letting contracts and committing to the plan to get the state funding.”

Tom Kapp: “It ended up being about 2 and a half times the parking that's on Broadway now… Mostly light changes and a little bit of lane change stuff. So looks like it could work.”","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Kissimmee City Commission Jan 21, 2025 ","oneSentenceSummary","Two residents updated the commission on the Broadway Beautification Project, saying construction drawings and parking/striping plans are in place and urging the city to adopt and move rapidly to secure state funding.","taxTitle","Kissimmee, Osceola County, Florida","taxId",58314,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6296592,"Resident urges lake cleanup at Kissimmee’s Lakefront Park; city staff, county say state permits and county grant drive schedule",0,1556000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2514267-31d82670eb630cc0b3f4cc41d2f828a0&start=1556&end=1556","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2514267-31d82670eb630cc0b3f4cc41d2f828a0/thumbnail_1556000.jpg","/articles/6296592/Kissimmee/Osceola-County/Florida/Resident-urges-lake-cleanup-at-Kissimmees-Lakefront-Park-city-staff-county-say-state-permits-and-county-grant-drive-schedule","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6296592-74b971f7349d7129ee9ad19727d74ff3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174596&Signature=ECkT2V6J7cGYLX85jAlS98YM9ufmyYcDOp9hchJpCz0~xiLFWtjVEeIgsYYm~MPKbPxidutiyhewvV2YVdhTLL7IfI2kw67n9I1g2aHK5ODlLsu5fLHKK8QBcCYwPrwbweUrVQ1I~GbEdq9IoA6jWmRFdO51lE4r~NqCsrUKrx6Bu3wP21bKlQ1XpgmlF6K~ScUU~izKkbk6xPx2nxTonvWwrKLvYpVQeNA4QIk2UCgGij-JMuJgB-PthiV~mSNNnYBm2hxMvXVDzMB8KbS7ks6KMIiaJegJ3qRgFyCTWxdcOELmDrLUSyff~JxYbr3TB4uww2v4S4PaLoKvO4mg1w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Kissimmee resident urged the City Commission to address persistent aquatic-plant growth, muck and debris at Lakefront Park, saying the conditions are affecting fishing and visitors. Deputy City Manager responded that the city has raised water-quality concerns with state officials for several years and noted the limits of municipal authority for state waters.

Resident Felipe Rivera Gonzales told the commission the lake shoreline at Lakefront Park appears “abandoned” and said aquatic plants and muck are impacting fish and tourism. He asked who — state or local government — is responsible for cleanup and urged collective action.

The Deputy City Manager said the waterbody is classified as waters of the state and that state permitting is required for the extensive cleaning the resident described. The deputy manager said Osceola County received a grant last year to clean a portion of the north lake in Kissimmee and that the county had been going through a bidding process; city staff said they would follow up with the county to obtain a start date for the county’s work.

City staff emphasized the lake’s value for flood storage and mitigation, and that lake cleanup remains on the city’s federal and local legislative action lists. Mayor Jackie Espinosa encouraged the resident to also contact his federal representative’s office to raise further attention and offered city-level follow-up.

Resident Felipe Rivera Gonzales: “I believe that maintaining our natural resources is everybody responsibility for the good of our community and future generations.”

Deputy City Manager (paraphrase): The deputy explained that the majority of the issues north of Neptune Road are hydrilla and invasive plants, and that muck removal will require state permits; the county has funding and is proceeding through bidding.","A Kissimmee resident told commissioners the lakefront is overgrown and impacting fishing and tourism; city staff said much of the waterbody is state waters, county received a grant for part of the work and state permitting is required.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6296597,"Commission approves Green Meadows Farm lease amendment, asks staff to negotiate cashless ticketing",890,2198000,3088000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2514267-31d82670eb630cc0b3f4cc41d2f828a0&start=2198&end=3088","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2514267-31d82670eb630cc0b3f4cc41d2f828a0/thumbnail_2198000.jpg","/articles/6296597/Kissimmee/Osceola-County/Florida/Commission-approves-Green-Meadows-Farm-lease-amendment-asks-staff-to-negotiate-cashless-ticketing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6296597-e2d9573f96018ff5ceb851fe0f8ed3c5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174596&Signature=I4On-uVEmTNWdYknGjdv2bSefq4ogp3BxCfUSgVfqUDM~6ZVhrD~WfO40x82W3uGDBUlrV2ZofdpP4wIqzrNvas-SjZw9RAeWpEO9FgfwqfvbDsGxFkr1ZrFVWp-VtFDS~r1CHSdoSLzVnfFt0oCpG0GnZadCuqCShilhpcqdECDBrQVmvDZN9O6qp-OwoH9y9lRBHjqKqW~6q4uJwGLlRxGF55oLpwAvy8GuCTYzMWY6FFoezjSEy3deCtXiQ7ZBcNH57VIK2X2mydAQFse1FW0DK-LJ0Ged5r-V86Dbc-SC36wC1cqs4NNE8mqAhuP~jCDabcz4yC8Ez3WYdWq8w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Kissimmee City Commission approved a second amendment to the lease with Green Meadows Farm, setting a new five‑year term with two renewable options and a tiered rent structure, and directed staff to negotiate a move toward cashless ticketing and stronger access to point‑of‑sale records.

Vice Mayor Angela Eady asked that the agreement require a cashless system to protect transaction integrity. City staff, represented by Steve Lackey (the city staff member negotiating the agreement), said Green Meadows currently uses the Square point‑of‑sale system integrated with Ticket Spice for online ticketing. Lackey described daily ticket reconciliation and monthly reporting as the primary means by which the city will verify gate revenue and collect its percentage share.

Staff explained the lease structure in detail: the first year will consist of a monthly payment without a city percentage, giving the parties time to implement systems; in March 2026 the arrangement will convert to a share of gate revenue; in year five the agreement contains a higher fixed rent (identified in the staff summary as $5,000). Staff told commissioners they would have about a year to transition to cashless operations and could renegotiate lease provisions to require changes to concession/payment processes.

Vice Mayor Eady moved to approve the amendment while directing staff to work with Green Meadows to pursue a cashless point-of-sale process; the motion was seconded, and the commission approved the lease amendment by a 4–1 vote.

Steve Lackey (staff): “They currently use a system called Square, which is a very robust, POS system and they record all types of payments. It will record and track cash, checks, gift cards, all of the online sales, as well as cashless… and credit cards.”

Commissioners and staff said the city will use the first year’s monthly reporting period to verify ticketing reconciliation and to negotiate any required changes to the POS terms; staff will return with a proposed third amendment or modification after the initial operating year.","The commission approved a second amendment to the Green Meadows Farm lease with direction that staff explore transitioning to a cashless point-of-sale system and return a third amendment after a year; the vote carried 4–1.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6296603,"SBA outlines disaster loan help for businesses, homeowners after Hurricane Milton; deadlines noted",468,736000,1204000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2514267-31d82670eb630cc0b3f4cc41d2f828a0&start=736&end=1204","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2514267-31d82670eb630cc0b3f4cc41d2f828a0/thumbnail_736000.jpg","/articles/6296603/Kissimmee/Osceola-County/Florida/SBA-outlines-disaster-loan-help-for-businesses-homeowners-after-Hurricane-Milton-deadlines-noted","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6296603-cf5b8b96b25da53d9c6af9a7081bf548/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174596&Signature=Ad-dc1nTEEgD18HsRPzk~8G51VPpBAAEwxHRDYYljCPhvMkuhtpn9nI8lcR3u5VANqGsoVJ1nLAHME1LLG6MizqoewfXZeGZiPs~FqFO7rlycQiiPUM67Fn3QNRn78MKKnogRc5ZvsLwNsZEnWkId2Cix6XOO-qUkg-bkhJcKIIGWXL5RFbkxSFC4we3e52uSgifI~HvT4G84SNZe1lQKU-wcZ48S2Pxy6SQnR5OHepAxXcYmmRyDe-gTdC7AVb3xaQRcGY0M-xGx7Nj7KyeXcwqpCduXj2wQSXIz7m0QE86lNWvf8L8Gzc2nOFiMxRma~DhgUYSSyK~WRCetC3Oaw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jason Ross, a public affairs specialist with the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience, briefed the Kissimmee City Commission on SBA disaster loan programs available to local businesses, nonprofits, homeowners and renters impacted by Hurricane Milton.

Ross said physical-damage disaster loans are available for businesses and nonprofits up to $2 million, and for homeowners up to $500,000; homeowners and renters may also borrow up to $100,000 for repair or replacement of personal property. He described a mitigation allowance — up to an additional 20% of the real-estate damage amount — to harden properties against future storms, citing examples such as impact-resistant windows and sump pumps.

Interest rates Ross gave in the presentation were 4% for businesses, 3.25% for nonprofits, and about 2.813% for homeowners and renters. He said SBA disaster loans are long-term (up to 30 years), with no payments required during the first year and no interest added to the principal during that period. Ross told the commission that the physical-damage loan deadline had been January 7 but that a 60-day grace period extended the effective deadline to March 7; the economic injury disaster loan (EIDL) deadline he cited was July 11.

Ross encouraged business owners to consider economic-injury disaster loans even if they had no physical damage, explaining that these loans help companies stay open after customers or revenue streams were affected. He also described collateral policies (loans over $50,000 have collateral requirements; borrowers may pledge available real estate; SBA will not decline solely for lack of collateral) and documentation to bring when applying.

Ross provided application resources: lending.sba.gov to begin eligibility checks by state and county, sba.gov/disaster for program information, and a contact phone number listed in his presentation. He said he would remain after the meeting to answer questions in person.

Ross: “We do have physical damage loans for businesses, nonprofit organizations, homeowners, and renters. These loans can go all the way up to $2,000,000 for businesses and nonprofits.”

Q&A at the meeting covered schedules and local drop-in availability; Ross confirmed there are local Business Recovery Center locations and online application options.","An SBA official told the Kissimmee City Commission about physical-damage and economic-injury disaster loans, interest rates, loan limits and application deadlines, and offered local help resources.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6296607,"Kissimmee commission approves first reading of ordinance to require criminal-history checks, adds commissioners for second reading",213,1338000,1551000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2514267-31d82670eb630cc0b3f4cc41d2f828a0&start=1338&end=1551","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2514267-31d82670eb630cc0b3f4cc41d2f828a0/thumbnail_1338000.jpg","/articles/6296607/Kissimmee/Osceola-County/Florida/Kissimmee-commission-approves-first-reading-of-ordinance-to-require-criminal-history-checks-adds-commissioners-for-second-reading","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6296607-60fe137f2eaa9161e63a42f0cfdfbb69/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174596&Signature=RvFUS7Wtnd92~BqZbYzzg5tozKFIKhfnIHGV~3LHCZ8G9R2pcng2sQBf0mVdfNC8hWavNFz0EletjPcFaOgP4mJdbDoT8kKKWRNYLS9lF3-suZflBuTJrpaRabl7Bx9kipVujxCuJV49r-Njl2LpIfT~InjKeqjPhKjDmSlfpBBMvM7RWPe5bsQ~AEEDBjGWFbefqPwq-MZ7fKeXXJP9wz47BJuB4NdoSoEXX9l-TgoXVBb-3Yy7QjeAIeS8nUgUXfzpUZEU0v2PfmqJ0fZ7oE-mJH6gRf9CoqtIn3GpUJCJuElDPqUUFxgPtMzHL-NVI9MjlWPwURC2VVETXwXomQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Kissimmee City Commission on first reading approved an ordinance authorizing state and national criminal-history checks for positions the city designates as critical to public safety and security, and directed staff to include elected commissioners for consideration at second reading.

City Attorney (staff) told commissioners the ordinance amends Chapter 2, Article 4 of the city code and is being proposed under Florida Statute 166.0442, which authorizes a municipality to require state and national criminal-history screening for persons in positions the city considers critical to public safety. The attorney recommended approval.

During the public hearing no members of the public spoke. A motion to approve the ordinance at first reading was made and seconded; after questions about whether elected officials could be included, Vice Mayor Angela Eady moved to add commissioners as a category to be screened and Commissioner Carlos Alvarez seconded that motion. The commission voted to carry the motion; the commission did not complete a full roll call at the dais and the clerk recorded the motion as carried on first reading.

The first-reading approval moves the ordinance forward to a second reading at which staff will present an updated ordinance with commissioners explicitly included among positions subject to screening if the commission confirms that direction.

City Attorney: “This ordinance is pursuant to Florida statute 166.0442 and it authorizes cities by ordinance to require state and national criminal history screening for any person of city employment or appointment which the city deems critical to public safety and security.”

The commission’s action at first reading does not itself institute checks; it authorizes the city to identify which positions will be subject to the screening. The transcript shows the commission’s intent to return the ordinance with commissioners listed for the second-reading vote.

Commissioners and staff said they expect to review the specific positions and return a redlined ordinance for the next hearing.

No public speaker urged or opposed the ordinance at the hearing.","The City Commission approved first reading of an ordinance allowing state and national criminal-history checks for positions the city deems critical to public safety, and voted to add elected commissioners to the list for the ordinance’s second reading.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Community leaders, residents report Broadway Beautification plan ready; urge commission to adopt

Resident urges lake cleanup at Kissimmee’s Lakefront Park; city staff, county say state permits and county grant drive schedule

Commission approves Green Meadows Farm lease amendment, asks staff to negotiate cashless ticketing

SBA outlines disaster loan help for businesses, homeowners after Hurricane Milton; deadlines noted

Kissimmee commission approves first reading of ordinance to require criminal-history checks, adds commissioners for second reading